PT:DPT - Doctor of Physical Therapy

Minimum Admissions Requirements for the Doctor of Physical Therapy

(1) A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.

(2) An overall cumulative, pre-requisite, and last 60 hours of Upper Division GPA of 3.0

(3) A score above the 50 percentile on both Verbal and Quantitative sections of the GRE is recommended. A minimum score of 3.5 is recommended for the Analytical portion of the GRE.

(4) A minimum of 60 hours of observation and/or work experience with physical therapists.

(5) Three letters of recommendation two of which must be from a physical therapist.

(6) Completion of the following prerequisites courses:                                           

--Chemistry with Lab  (8 credits)

--Developmental Psychology  (3 credits)                        

--General Biology with Lab  (4 credits)                                               

--Human Anatomy with Lab  (4 credits)                                                   

--Human Physiology with Lab  (4 credits)                                                

--Physics with Lab  (8 credits)                                                             

--Psychology  (3 credits)                                                                           

--Statistics  (3 credits)                                                                                  

Additional Items

1.      Essay which explains why you want to become a physical therapist and why you are interested in attending FIU.

2.      A curriculum vitae/resume.

3.      Admission into FIU as a graduate student.

Application and Admission Processes

Applying for admission to the DPT program is via the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) at http://www.ptcas.org/FloridaInternational.html. The applicant also needs to complete a Supplemental Graduate School Online Form at https://intra.fiu.edu/Facts/PTCAS.

Admission to the program is highly competitive. The department selects students based primarily on their record of academic performance, although evidence of non-academic outstanding personal qualities is also considered.

Timelines

Final application deadline is mid-January to begin the program the following Fall semester. Qualified applicants will be invited for an interview.

Early Admission

We will review applicants on a monthly basis beginning in September prior to the January deadline. Well qualified students who apply within this time frame will be invited to campus for an early interview. Successful candidates will be offered early admission contingent on completing all admission requirements. Go to the department’s website for a full description of the admissions process and prerequisite courses http://cnhs.fiu.edu/pt/index.html.

General Policies and Information

Upon acceptance in to the Doctor of Physical Therapy program, all students will be required to complete a criminal background check and a level II FBI fingerprint background check.

The Director of Clinical Education (DCE) will review these results. In the event that a flagged item appears on either report, the student will be required to meet with the department chair and DCE. The student will be counseled and instructed that he or she will have to disclose this information to the state board upon application for the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE), and provide any additional information requested by the state. The student will also have to acknowledge, in writing, that they are aware that the flagged item may result in the inability to sit for the NPTE for licensure.

Academic Warning, Probation and Dismissal

Warning

A DPT student whose cumulative graduate GPA falls below a 3.0 will be placed on warning, indicating academic difficulty. The student may or may not be placed for clinical experience. The final decision will be based on faculty recommendation and decided by department chair and DCE. Not completing a clinical experience in the correct sequence will delay the student’s graduation.

Probation

A DPT student on warning whose cumulative graduate GPA remains below 3.0 in the following semester will be placed on probation, indicating serious academic difficulty. The student may or may not be placed for clinical experience. The final decision will be based on faculty recommendation and decided by department chair and DCE. Not completing a clinical experience in the correct sequence will delay the student’s graduation.

The department may indicate other conditions, which must be met in order to continue enrollment.

Dismissal

A DPT student on probation whose cumulative and semester GPA fall below a 3.0 will be automatically dismissed from the DPT program and the University.

Dismissal Appeal

Students must follow the University Graduate School Rules and Regulations as published in the University Catalog.

Department Policy - Academic Progression

In addition to the warning, probation, and dismissal policy described above, a student will be dismissed from the Doctor of Physical Therapy program if they receive a grade below a "C" in any course.

Grading Criteria

• A (94-100)

• A- (90-93)

• B+ (87-89)

• B (84-86)

• B- (80-83)

• C+ (77-79)

• C (74-76)

• Below 74 is considered failing grade.

Class Attendance/Participation Policy

In accordance with the FIU Attendance Policy stated in the catalog and in the Physical Therapy Student Handbook, students are expected to be punctual and attend all classes. The program has a required attendance policy recognizing medical/health, family emergencies, inclement weather or religious days as examples of justifiable excused absences. Travel, volunteering, and work are examples of unjustifiable and unexcused absences. In order to receive an excused absence, students must contact the professor in advance of the class that will be missed; documentation may be required. Each unexcused absence may result in a loss of 5% of the total course grade. Three or more unexcused absences is grounds for course failure.

All students are expected to complete/participate in exams, practicals, assignments, class activities, and presentations when these are part of a course. Failure to participate/present without approval from the course instructor is also grounds for course failure.” Consistent attendance at scheduled classes and laboratory sessions are considered a prime indicator of mature and professional behavior and is expected of all students. Failure to follow the attendance policy is grounds for dismissal. If circumstances require a student to be absent, it is the student’s responsibility to notify the faculty member in advance and ask to be excused. The student is held responsible for the material covered during that absence.

Any points (exams, quizzes, assignments, participation, etc.) associated with an unexcused absence, will not be eligible for makeup, and will be assigned a zero.

A student who must leave class before the scheduled ending time should request permission from the faculty member before the beginning of class. The student is held responsible for the material covered during the time the student is not there.

Punctuality is a demonstration of professional responsibility and the ability to fulfill a commitment on the part of the student. Arriving late to class or laboratory is disruptive and inconsiderate. If a circumstance requires a late arrival, the student should notify the faculty member in advance.

All students are expected to participate in class assignments, activities, and presentations if and when given. Failure to participate/present without approval from the course instructor will lead to course failure. Students are not to schedule any vacations or absences during the designated finals week for the semester. Testing schedules will not be modified.

Absence

A student who finds it necessary to be excused from registration in a graduate degree program for three consecutive terms, or one term in the case of students subject to continuous enrollment, must formally request a leave of absence from the graduate program. Leave time must be requested prior to the beginning of the anticipated leave time and must be approved by the program director or chairperson of the department, the dean of the appropriate school or college and the Dean of the University Graduate School. Leave will generally be granted in cases involving personal hardship, medical concerns, or family need. Academic standing is not considered a reason for granting a leave.

Leave of Absence

A leave of absence will not be granted for students currently enrolled with conditional status. A graduate student who returns from a leave of absence may be required to make changes to their research committee and/or research plan due to changes that have occurred in their absence.

Graduation Requirements

To be eligible for graduation the student must:

--Meet all University Graduate School requirements for graduation.

--Satisfactorily complete all didactic and fieldwork requirements within DPT degree program guidelines.

--Have a minimum graduate GPA of 3.0 in the DPT degree required courses

There are no majors associated with this program.

There are no tracks, specializations, concentrations, areas of emphasis, or other curricular offerings associated with this program.